Stacking device for cards or the like



May 6, 1952 T. A. FEDERWITZ Filed Sept. 4, 1948 WITNESSES 6 Sheets-Sheetl .4 TTORNEYS.

y 6, 1952 T. A. FEDERWITZ 2,595,346

s'mcxmc DEVICE FOR CARDS OR THE LIKE Filed Sept. 4, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet2 l INVEN TOR.- Jizeoaawiieaierwi;

ATTORNEYS.

May 6, 1952 Filed Sept. 4, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 agar; 3 I E-' f 231E952im in 1 TNESSES INVENTOR: Fiwaaioreflikdarwly, BY 6 mm #9 1 A TTORNEYS y6, 1952 T. A. FEDERWITZ 2,595,346

STACKING DEVICE FOR CARDS OR THE LIKE Filed Sept; 4, 1948 e Sheets-Sheet4 HGtLZL A TTORNE YS.

y 6, 1952 T. A. FEDERWITZ 2,595,346

STACKING DEVICE FOR CARDS OR THE LIKE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 4,1948 WITNESSES J1 INVENTOIF: @fi I'iwaaamflieaierwag,

' 7 Gaul A TTORNEYS.

y 1952 T. A. FEDERWITZ 2,595,346

s'rAcxmc DEVICE FOR CARDS OR THE LIKE Filed Sept. 4, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet6 J v 19 Z J Zwz;

31 INVEN TOR.-

lli/waforefleafeiwli A TTORNEYS.

Patented May 6, 1 952 STACKIN G DEVICE FOR CARDS OR THE LIKE Theodore A.Federwitz, Philadelphia, Pa., as-

signor, by mesne assignments, to Scriptomatic, Inc., Philadelphia, Pa.,a corporation of Pennsylvania Application September 4, 1948, Serial No.47,834

8 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a stacking device and more particularly to adevice adapted to receive individual cards or the like, one at a time,and to cause them to be automatically stacked in vertical alignment,each new card being introduced below the preceding cards so that theorder of the cards from top to bottom in the stacked pile is the sameorder as that in which the cards are fed to the stacking device. Thisdevice, although capable of a variety of uses, has special utility whenused in association with a data writing machine, such as an addressingmachine. With such use of the stacking device master cards arranged inappropriate order for filing are progressed singly through an addressingmachine, and as an incident to such progression names, addresses andother data appearing on the master cards are transferred to andimprinted upon a receiving sheet, subsequently used for mailingpurposes. Upon the discharge of the master cards from the addressingmachine it is obviously desirable that the cards be re-stacked inexactly the same order as they were stacked when brought to the machine.The device of my present invention is well suited to perform such anoperation, or any analogous stacking operation, wherein cards or likeobjects are progressively fed to the bottom of a receptacle, each cardentering below the preceding card.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a stacking device ofthe character indicated which is capable of automatically, efficientlyand rapidly handling the objects to be stacked.

Other objects and advantages of the invention, including those derivedfrom simplicity and economy as to manufacture and operation, will becomemore fully apparent from the description of one embodiment of theinvention set forth hereinafter, having reference to the accompanyingdrawings whereof:

Fig. 1 represents a side elevation, with certain parts broken away toreveal interior details, of a stacking device of this invention;

Fig. 2 represents a front view of the same;

Fig. 3 represents a rear view of the same;

Fig. 4 represents an enlarged horizontal crosssection of the same takenas indicated by the arrows IV-IV of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical section taken as indicatedby the arrows V'V of Fig. 4 with parts shown in the positions theyoccupy as the table is rising.

Fig. 6 represents an enlarged vertical longitudinal cross section ofparts of the device taken as indicated by the arrows VI-'VI of Figs. 3and 4;

Fig. 7 represents a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken asindicated by the arrows VIIVII of Fig. 5; I

Figs. 8 and 9 represent enlarged vertical transverse cross-sections ofparts of the device taken as indicated respectively by the arrowsVlII-VIII of Figs. 1 and 6. and IXIX of Figs. 1 and 4;

Figs. 10, 11 and 12 represent vertical transverse cross-sections,generally similar to Fig. 9, but showing the table and the variousmechanical parts associated with it in different positions to illustratethe sequence of movements involved;

Fig. 13 represents a perspective view of one of the fingers used forsupporting the cards in elevated position within the receptacle to whichthey are admitted; and

Fig. 14 represents a perspective viewof one of the swinging cams usedfor actuating the aforementioned fingers.

With special reference to Figs. 1 to 3 the embodiment of the inventionshown in the drawings comprises a pedestal I which may be mounted on afloor or foundation and which supports a receptacle 2 in which cards 3are adapted to be stacked, one on top of another, in vertical alignment.In the illustrated example the cards 3 are transported to the receptacle2 by a feeding mechanism in the form of an endless belt 4. It may beassumed that this belt 4 receives the cards, one at a time, as they aredischarged from a data writing machine such as the machine described andclaimed in my co-pending application for Letters Patent, Serial No.52,932, filed October 5, 1948.

The stacking receptacle 2 is open at one end near the bottom, this beingthe end into which the cards are admitted from the belt 4. By means ofupright guide brackets 5, each including an end plate 6 so as to definea right-angular corner the cards within the receptacle are maintained invertical alignment. Between the four upstanding guide brackets 5 thereceptacle isdesirably open and at each side includes a relatively deepopening I so that the operator may with his fingers readily grasp theentire stack of cards in the receptacle and remove it by lifting itclear of the upper ends of the guide brackets 5.

Disposed within the receptacle 2 and fitting between the side walls 8thereof is a table 9 which is movabl up and down within predeterminedadjustable limits. The table 9 has depending therefrom, see Figs. 3 and8, a pair of cylindrical posts I I which fit within annular bearings I2having lubricated bushings I3, and thus is guided in its verticaltravel. Reciprocation of the table 9 is effected by means of arm l5, seeFig. 1, pivotally joined to a fitting IS on the lower end of a threadedconnecting rod i1. At its upper end the connecting rod H has a similarfitting l8 pivotally connected to a pin [9 at the underside of thetable. In an obvious manner rocking of the lever arm [5, which isaccomplished in timed relation to the discharge of cards to the belt 4,causes the table 9 to be moved up and down and to receive a card fromthe belt while in its lowered position. Adjustment of the upper andlower limits of movement of the table 9 is effected by means of nuts 2!engaging the upper and lower threaded ends of the connecting rod I1 andthe fittings i5 and [8 to which it is joined.

As best shown in Figs. 1 and 5, the lever arm I5 is fixed to a rotatableshaft 59 and is rigidly joined through the shaft 59, to a crank arm 5ihaving at its free end a roller 52 which engages a cam surface 53 formedinternally on a flanged disk 54 mounted on a shaft 55. Shaft 55isjournaled in brackets 56 bolted to the front of the pedestal I. The camsurface 53 together with a similar interior surface 49, forming a closedcam track, are so configured that rotation of the shaft 55 causes thetable 9 to be reciprocated and to dwell momentarily at certain points inits movement. It may be assumed that shaft 55 is driven by mechanism(not shown) associated with the data writing machine from which cardsare discharged to the stacking device, and that the movement of thetable 9 may thus be timed in relation to the feeding of the cards to theendless belt 4.

On the shaft 55 there is mounted a disk 5'! having a cam surface 58 atits periphery which engages a roller 59 on a lever arm 6| fulcrumed toswing freely about shaft 59. The lever arm 5| is pivotally connected toa link 62 which in turn actuates pivoted levers 63 which act as pushersfor insuring that each card is properly fed to the receptacle 2. Aspring 64 maintains the roller 09 in engagement with cam surface 58.

On the shaft 55 there is also mounted a disk 65 having a cam surface 66which engages a roller 6'! on a lever arm 68. The lever arm 68 isfulcrumed on a shaft 69, which is journaled in the brackets 55, andcarries a projecting pin 19 which engages an arm 60 which actuates apair of stop fingers H. A spring 12 maintains the roller 5'! inengagement with cam surface 66. The stop fingers H are fixed on a shaft13 and urged by a spring 14 to a position where they obstruct themovement of cards towards the receptacle 2.

upwardly and stop fingers H are then swung downwardly, against thepressure of spring 14, as shown in dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 1, to aposition where they no longer obstruct movement of the cards 3.

The cards 3 as discharged from the data writing machine onto the endlessbelt 4 are progressed towards the receptacle 2 between guides 41, seeFig. 7, supported on a slotted plate 48, which prevent any lateral orvertical deviation of the cards in their path towards the receptacle.The cards 3 are momentarily halted by the stop fingers 'I I, but at theproper point in the rotation of shaft 55, when the table 9 is loweredand in a position ready to receive a card, the stop fingers aredepressed, permitting the card to continue in its travel; at this pointthe pusher fingers are depressed. As each card enters the receptacle 2its movement continues, by virtue of frictional When the raised portionof cam surface 55 strikes the roller 61, lever arm 68 is swungengagement with the belt 4, until its leading edge strikes the rear wallof the receptacle. At this point the pusher fingers 63 swing upwardlybehind the trailing edge, giving the card the final impetus to carry itto its ultimate position within the receptacle, and at the same time, byreason of the shape of cam surface 58, the pusher fingers 63 are causedto dwell momentarily adjacent the edge of the table preventing anyrebound as the card strikes the rear wall.

Thus the cards are fed, not only in timed relation to the up and downmovement of the table, but with positive insurance that they will enterthe receptacle at the proper moment and without deviation from theirproper path, and will be centered at the bottom of the receptacle instrict vertical alignment with all other cards stacked therein.

Preferably the table has a series of grooves 25 in its upper surface tominimize any tendency of the cards to adhere thereto. At each side ofthe table, as best shown in Figs. 4, 6 and 9 to 12, downwardly andinwardly inclined surfaces 26 are provided, and pairs of flanges 2'!project outwardly from these surfaces. On each flange 21 is a pin 28carrying a swinging cam 29, shown in detail in Fig. 14. One end of eachcam 29 is bifurcated and rounded as indicated at 3|, and the other endis bifurcated and pointed as indicated at 32. A spring 33 having one endbearing against a ledge of the cam and the other end bearing against theinclined surface 26 beneath the table 9 urges the rounded end of the camto swing downwardly and away from the table. Such movement is limited,however, by the engagement of the pointed end 32 with the inclinedsurface 23. The roundedend 3! of each cam 29 carries a roller 34 whichis adapted to engage a swinging finger 35.

At each side of the table 9 is mounted a pair of swinging fingers 35.Each finger 35 has at its lower end an annular bearing 36 whichsurrounds and engages a pivot pin 31 supported on the frame within whichthe table 9 moves. The fingers 35 are housed at the sides of the tableand are urged to swing towards the table by springs 38 whereof one endengages the wall of the housing and the other end engages a stud 39 onthe finger. At its free end each finger 35 has an inwardly projectinghorizontal ledge 40 which is adapted to penetrate through an opening 4|in the side wall of the receptacle to support the stack of cards thereinwhen the table 9 is lowered.

Between its free end and its point of connection with the pivot pin 3?each finger has a wedge-shaped cam surface 42 which is adapted to beengaged by the roller 34 of the adjacent cam 29. As the table 9 movesupwardly the rollers 34 at the ends of the cams 29 are caused to engagefirst one side and then the other of the wedge-shaped cam surfaces 42with resulting movements of the fingers 35 through the various positionsrepresented in Figs. 9 to 12. The springs 38 associated with the fingers35 are somewhat stronger than the springs associated with the cams 29 sothat upon the downward movement of the table 9 the fingers remain in thepositions represented in Figs. 11 and 12.

At the front end of the table 9 adjacent to the belt 4 the table is cutaway, as indicated at 43 in Fig. 4, to receive the belt and the idleroller 44 upon which it is mounted. Thus the belt 4, when actuated bythe driving roller 45, serves to transport and positively advance eachcard 3, confined by'guide plates 41, into the receptacle 2,

carrying it to a position where it engages the rear wall formed by theend plates 6. At each side the table 9 is also cut away, as indicated at46, to form four recesses which accommodate the four fingers 35, therebeing sufiicient clearance between these elements 59 that lowering andraising of the table does not obstruct the lateral swinging of thefingers.

The operation of the stacking device of this invention is as follows:Let it be assumed that the receptacle 2 of the stacking device is emptyand that the data writing machine with which the device is associated isplaced in operation with the result the master cards 3 are dischargedfrom such machine on to the endless belt 4 in succession. Each time acard is introduced into the receptacle 2 the table 9 will occupy aposition such as represented in Fig. 9. As the first card is thusintroduced to the receptacle the swinging fingers will be in a verticalposition with their horizontal ledges projecting into the receptaclethrough the openings 4!. Thereupon as the table 9 is elevated by meansof the rocking of the lever 14 the rollers 34 of cams 29 strike thewedgeshaped cam surfaces 42 of the fingers 35 and cause the fingers tobe swung outwardly away from the table to positions as shown in Fig. 10.It will be noted that the cams 29, during this movement, have theirinner pointed ends 32 in engagement with the inclined surfaces 26beneath the table so that the cams positively actuate the fingers. Asthe table 9 reaches its upper limit of travel each camroller 34 passesover the apex of the adjacent wedge-shaped cam surface 42, permittingthe engaged finger 35 to swing inwardly under the influence of itsspring 39. Thus the fingers reach the positions represented in Fig. 11.The first card introduced into the receptacle 2 has in the meanwhilebeen elevated by the table to a position above the level of thehorizontal ledges 40 of the fingers 35.

After the table 9 has reached the upper limit of its travel it commencesto descend. The card previously introduced drops to the level of theledges 40 and is then held in elevated position in the manner shown inFig. 12. Further descent of the table is accompanied by an inwardmovement of the cams 29 against the pressure of their springs 33. Thefingers 35 remain in vertical position unaffected by the lowering of thetable. When the table 9 reaches its lower limit of the travel it isready to receive a new card, and upon the introduction of that card, thecard or cards already received within the receptacle are held inelevated position by the ledges 40 as shown in Fig. 9. This operation isrepeated and continued until the receptacle 2 is completely filled withcards whereupon the entire stack is removed from the receptacle by handto make room for additional cards.

It will be observed that the fingers 35 are movable into and out of thereceptacle in response to the downward and upward movements of the table9, that the up-stroke of the table serves to elevate the card or cardswithin the receptacle, and that the horizontal ledges 49 of the fingers35 serve to support the pile in elevated position during the down strokeof the table so that new cards may be admitted singly to the bottom ofthe pile at each lowering of the table. Hence the proper order ofstacking is preserved at all times.

Although the stacking device of this invention has been described indetail with reference to one specific embodiment adapted for aparticular purpose, namely, the stacking of the cards within areceptacle associated with a data writing machine, it will be readilyapparent to those skilled in the art that the device has many other usesand that the mechanical elements thereof, including particularly thecard feeding mechanism, the swinging cams and fingers, may beconsiderably varied and that equivalent mechanism may be employed foraccomplishing the same result. All such changes, including reversals ofparts and the use of certain features of this invention without acorresponding use of other features, are considered to be within thespirit of the invention as defined in the annexed claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A stacking device comprising a receptacle for maintaining a pile ofcards or the like in vertical alignment, a table movable up and down atthe base of said receptacle, feeding mechanism for successivelyadvancing individual cards and introducing them into the receptacleincluding a conveyor and a feeding pusher reciprocable above and "belowsaid conveyor in timed relationship to the movement of the table forengagement with the trailing edge of each card, means for reciprocatingsaid feeder pusher for positive advancement of the card on said table, acam element maintaining said feeding pusher adjacent the table for alimited period after advancement of the card to the table, and cardsupporting devices movable into and out of the receptacle incident tothe movement of said table to support the cards and permit theintroduction of a subsequent card at the bottom of the pile when thetable is lowered.

2. A stacking device comprising a receptacle for maintaining a pile ofcards or the like in vertical alignment, a table movable up and down atthe base of said receptacle, feeding mechanism for successivelyadvancing individual cards and introducing them into the receptacle atthe base thereof, including an endless belt and a feeding pusher in theform of a pivotally mounted lever movable above said belt for engagementwith the trailing edge of each card and positive advancement of the cardon said table, cam means associated with said feeding pusher for causingsaid pusher to dwell momentarily adjacent said table to prevent reboundof the card from the table, and card supporting devices movable into andout of the receptacle incident to the up and down movement of said tableto support the cards and permit the introduction of a subsequent card atthe bottom of the pile when the table is lowered.

3. A stacking device comprising a receptacle for maintaining a pile ofcards or the like in vertical alignment, a table movable up and down atthe base of the receptacle, a feeding mechanism for successivelyadvancing individual cards to a position on said table, a plurality ofswinging cams on said table, a plurality of coacting swinging fingers onsaid receptacle, at opposite sides of the table, said fingers beingadapted for outward swinging movement under the influence of the camsduring the up stroke of the table and the cams being adapted for inwardswinging movement under the influence of the fingers during the downstroke of the table while the stacked cards are supported by thefingers.

4. A stacking device comprising a receptacle for maintaining a pile ofcards or the like in ver tical alignment, a table movable up and down atthe base of the receptacle, a feeding mechanism for successivelyadvancing individual cards to a position on top of said table, aplurality of swinging cams pivoted on said table with means forrestricting the outward pivotal movement of said cams, and a pluralityof swinging fingers pivoted on said receptacle, each finger having awedge shaped cam surface including a lower cam following section forcoaction with one of said cams on the table to swing the fingeroutwardly during the up stroke of said table and an upper cam section topermit the inward swinging of said finger subsequent to its outwardswinging during the up stroke of said table and to swing said caminwardly during the down stroke of said table while the stacked cardsare supported by the fingers.

5. A stacking device comprising a receptacle for maintaining a pile ofcards or the like in vertical alignment, a table movable up and down atthe base of said receptacle, a feeding mechanism for successivelyadvancing individual cards to a position on top of said table and withinsaid receptacle, a plurality of swinging fingers pivotally connected atopposite sides of the receptacle for swinging movement toward and awayfrom said table, said fingers having horizontal ledges at their freeupper ends and wedge shaped cam surfaces disposed between their freeends and their pivot points, and a plurality of swinging cams pivotallyattached to said table having cam surfaces in operative contact with thecorresponding cam surfaces of the swinging fingers while the table ismoving up and down.

6. A stacking device comprising a receptacle for maintaining a pile ofcards or like articles in vertical alignment, a table movable up anddown at the base of said receptacle, feeding mechanism for successivelyadvancing articles to a position on said table, a plurality of swingingcams pivotally attached to said table, a plurality of cam mountingsprings operatively engaging said cams to urge the outward movementthereof, restrictive means limiting the outward movement of said cams, aplurality of swinging fingers pivotally attached to said receptacle forcontact with said cams while the table is moving up and down, aplurality of finger mounting springs operatively engaging said fingersto urge the inward pivotal movement thereof, and restrictive meanslimiting the inward movement of said fingers, each finger having a wedgeshaped cam surface including a lower cam following surface forengagement with the cam to swing the finger outwardly under theinfluence of the cam during the up stroke of the table, and an upper camsurface to permit the inward swinging of said finger under the influenceof the finger mounting spring subsequent to the outward swinging duringthe up stroke of the table and to swing the cam inwardly against theforce of the cam mounting spring during the downward stroke of thetable, the finger mounting spring being stronger than the cam mountingspring.

7. A stacking device comprising a receptacle for stacked cards or likearticles, a table movable up and down in said receptacle, an articlesupporting finger pivotally mounted for swinging movement to and fromarticle supporting position in said receptacle, said finger having anarticle supporting element disposed at a level intermediate theuppermost and lowermost levels assumed by the table as it moves up anddown in the receptacle, means for feeding articles to the table belowthe level of said article supporting element, a swinging cam pivotallymounted on said table for coaction with the swinging finger to swingsaid finger out of said article supporting position under the influenceof the cam during the up stroke of said table, and said swinging fingerhaving an indented surface also coacting with said cam to permit saidfinger to swing to article supporting position when the table is abovesaid finger, and to remain in article supporting position during thedown stroke of the table.

8. A stacking device comprising a receptacle for stacked articles suchas cards or the like, a table reciprocable up and down in saidreceptacle, article supporting means including an article supportingfinger mounted on said receptacle for swinging movement into and out ofarticle supporting position thereon, a swinging cam pivotally mounted onsaid table for operative contact with said swinging finger, said fingerbeing disposed at a level intermediate the uppermost and lowermostlevels assumed by the table as it moves up and down in the receptacle,said table being adapted for reception of the articles to be stacked ata level below the level of said finger, cam follower means on saidarticle supporting finger disposed in the path of movement of said camfor swinging movement out of article supporting position during the upstroke of the table when the table is below the level of the finger,means for returning said finger to article supporting position when thetable is above the finger, and cam means on said finger constructed andarranged to swing said swinging cam away from said finger while thefinger is in article supporting position, during the down stroke of thetable.

THEODORE A. FEDERWITZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,516,770 Grunlee Nov. 25, 19241,569,033 Reichel Jan. 12, 1926 1,943,500 Winkler Jan. 16, 19342,224,606 Neckel Dec. 10, 1940 2,248,122 Rosenthal July 8, 19412,255,522 Wilcox et al. Sept. 9, 1941 2,282,127 Gabbert May 5, 19422,307,822 Clegg Jan. 12, 1943

